New Jersey peach quality looks to be outstanding this season
New Jersey peach quality looks to be outstanding this season
Thanks to favorable peach growing weather, New Jersey is projecting an excellent crop of yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines.
New Jersey's crop enjoyed a winter with near perfect chill hours and a very favorable spring with just the right amount of rain. In anticipation of a full crop, growers did heavy thinning to increase size. Fruit quality appears to be outstanding.
Just like last year, sizing will be very good. In 2006, New Jersey's peach volume is expected to see a slight increase even over last year's large crop. With quality, sizing and volume all looking good, New Jersey growers are expecting strong interest in their crop this year.
In addition, the New Jersey peach crop will be arriving early. Get ready for New Jersey's crop of peaches to be about seven to 10 days early this year. Yellow peach volume is expected to start by mid-July, white peach volume by late July or early August and nectarine volume by late July or early August. Full volume for yellow peaches will be from mid-July through mid-September. White peaches will be available in quantity from late July or earlyAugust through early- to mid-September. Nectarines will be available in volume from late July or early August through early September.
New Jersey ranks fourth nationally in the production of peaches. Approximately 150 peach producers grow on 8,000 acres of peaches. By eliminating lengthy transit costs, Jersey peaches have less skin and flesh injuries, which subject the fruit to a shorter storage life and post-harvest disease. Fresher peaches have more sugar and better quality. Sugar is a vital component of quality peaches because it is changed to energy in the form of heat and compounds. Peaches grown in New Jersey and marketed to Eastern retailers will have more sugar than peaches grown long distances from these Eastern markets.
In addition to the standard half-bushel package for yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines, New Jersey growers are expanding the types of packs for their peaches. The Jersey Fruit Cooperative Association, which packs about half of New Jersey's peaches, will be offering its specialty pack line of products. Buyers will be able to order four-pound and six-pound consumer gift packs and also a two-layer tray pack.
The Jersey Fruit co-op will also be expanding last year's pilot program offering true tree ripe and fully mature peaches. Under this program, extraordinary care is taken to gently pack these fully tree-ripened peaches. Each peach is hand picked at full maturity, and using two-layer packs, they are actually hand-packed in the field. The peaches never touch a mechanical sorter or a mechanized contrivance of any sort. Only in this way can they truly be picked at the peak of maturity.
Instead of hydrocooling, they are rapidly cooled using forced air. This gentle process preserves all the old-fashioned fuzz that many consumers associate with farm fresh peaches. Available in limited quantity, these peaches will be much sought-after by New Jersey's roadside stands and other selective retailers.
The Jersey Fresh advertising and promotional campaign is celebrating its 22nd year in 2006. The "Jersey Fresh" name presents a unified brand for the state's peach crop, just as it does for other produce. To support this year's peach crop at the point of sale, New Jersey Department of Agriculture employees are visiting hundreds of area supermarkets, hand delivering to produce managers Jersey Fresh point-of-purchase advertising including Jersey Fresh peach price cards.
These p-o-p items are designed to reinforce the Jersey Fresh program's major media advertising on television, in print and on the radio promoting the quality and availability of all Jersey Fresh produce items.
Complementing the marketing efforts targeted at retailers and consumers, the department has for the past two years been working to increase institutional purchases of New Jersey peaches. Expanded purchases of Jersey peaches by the department's school lunch program and the New Jersey Department of Corrections are also anticipated during the upcoming season.
For New Jersey peach availability, information or promotional support, check out the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council at www.jerseypeaches.com or call the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at 609/292-5536.
(For more on the Jersey peach deal, see the July 17 issue of The Produce News.)
(Logan Brown is with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.)
New Jersey's crop enjoyed a winter with near perfect chill hours and a very favorable spring with just the right amount of rain. In anticipation of a full crop, growers did heavy thinning to increase size. Fruit quality appears to be outstanding.
Just like last year, sizing will be very good. In 2006, New Jersey's peach volume is expected to see a slight increase even over last year's large crop. With quality, sizing and volume all looking good, New Jersey growers are expecting strong interest in their crop this year.
In addition, the New Jersey peach crop will be arriving early. Get ready for New Jersey's crop of peaches to be about seven to 10 days early this year. Yellow peach volume is expected to start by mid-July, white peach volume by late July or early August and nectarine volume by late July or early August. Full volume for yellow peaches will be from mid-July through mid-September. White peaches will be available in quantity from late July or earlyAugust through early- to mid-September. Nectarines will be available in volume from late July or early August through early September.
New Jersey ranks fourth nationally in the production of peaches. Approximately 150 peach producers grow on 8,000 acres of peaches. By eliminating lengthy transit costs, Jersey peaches have less skin and flesh injuries, which subject the fruit to a shorter storage life and post-harvest disease. Fresher peaches have more sugar and better quality. Sugar is a vital component of quality peaches because it is changed to energy in the form of heat and compounds. Peaches grown in New Jersey and marketed to Eastern retailers will have more sugar than peaches grown long distances from these Eastern markets.
In addition to the standard half-bushel package for yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines, New Jersey growers are expanding the types of packs for their peaches. The Jersey Fruit Cooperative Association, which packs about half of New Jersey's peaches, will be offering its specialty pack line of products. Buyers will be able to order four-pound and six-pound consumer gift packs and also a two-layer tray pack.
The Jersey Fruit co-op will also be expanding last year's pilot program offering true tree ripe and fully mature peaches. Under this program, extraordinary care is taken to gently pack these fully tree-ripened peaches. Each peach is hand picked at full maturity, and using two-layer packs, they are actually hand-packed in the field. The peaches never touch a mechanical sorter or a mechanized contrivance of any sort. Only in this way can they truly be picked at the peak of maturity.
Instead of hydrocooling, they are rapidly cooled using forced air. This gentle process preserves all the old-fashioned fuzz that many consumers associate with farm fresh peaches. Available in limited quantity, these peaches will be much sought-after by New Jersey's roadside stands and other selective retailers.
The Jersey Fresh advertising and promotional campaign is celebrating its 22nd year in 2006. The "Jersey Fresh" name presents a unified brand for the state's peach crop, just as it does for other produce. To support this year's peach crop at the point of sale, New Jersey Department of Agriculture employees are visiting hundreds of area supermarkets, hand delivering to produce managers Jersey Fresh point-of-purchase advertising including Jersey Fresh peach price cards.
These p-o-p items are designed to reinforce the Jersey Fresh program's major media advertising on television, in print and on the radio promoting the quality and availability of all Jersey Fresh produce items.
Complementing the marketing efforts targeted at retailers and consumers, the department has for the past two years been working to increase institutional purchases of New Jersey peaches. Expanded purchases of Jersey peaches by the department's school lunch program and the New Jersey Department of Corrections are also anticipated during the upcoming season.
For New Jersey peach availability, information or promotional support, check out the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council at www.jerseypeaches.com or call the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at 609/292-5536.
(For more on the Jersey peach deal, see the July 17 issue of The Produce News.)
(Logan Brown is with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.)
